Little-known Max Aaron won his first title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Sunday and helped knock down three-time champion Jeremy Abbott to the last step on the podium. With two quadruple jumps and an arsenal's worth of other tricks in his "West Side Story" program, don't count the 20-year-old upstart out at the world championships in March, either.

"I kind of thought in the back of my mind he could be the national champion," coach Tom Zakrajsek said. "There are so many great men and you never know how they're going to skate or how it's going to be judged. I did think he gave a performance today -- when you give a performance like that, it's worthy of a national title.

"He skated into the title, which is kind of a nice way to earn it."

Aaron screamed and shook his fists when he finished his program, then slid across the ice giving a Tiger Woods-like fist pump. (He was wearing red, appropriately, and it was Sunday.)

"The goals I had coming into this event were just to complete two clean programs. I didn't think of ever medaling," Aaron said. "But I knew if I completed the programs the way I know I can do them, I knew I could be up there."

When his marks were posted, Aaron's jaw dropped and the audience roared. He won the free skate in a rout to jump from fourth to first, and finished with 255 points overall, almost four better than Ross Miner.

Abbott, who had won three of the past four U.S. titles, dropped to third after a disappointing and flawed free skate. The Americans can only send two men to the world championships, so Abbott will have to watch and hope Aaron and Miner do well enough to get an extra spot for the Sochi Olympics.

"These two men skated brilliantly and they deserve to be in the positions they are," Abbott said. "Not to put any pressure on them, but they better get three spots for next year."

Aaron was the U.S. junior champ two years ago, but has done little of note since then. He actually considered quitting skating last summer, after he finished eighth at nationals.

- Even with two falls, Ashley Wagner became the first woman since Michelle Kwan in 2005 to repeat as women's champion at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Wagner's hopes of the repeat seemed out of reach after she fell on a triple lutz and a triple loop, and also two-footed a triple flip. But her component scores were good enough to keep her ahead of up-and-comer Gracie Gold, who had to make up a lot of ground after a dismal short program. Wagner finished with 188.84 points, about two in front of Gold.

Gold won the free skate with a score of 132.49. Only Sasha Cohen had posted a better free skate score at nationals, a 134.03 in 2006. Agnes Zawadzki was third.

Wagner, 17, had too much ground to make up after a dismal performance Thursday night in the short program left her in ninth place, more than 13 points behind Wagner.

"To join that type of a club with Michelle is absolutely an honor, and I'm so pleased with myself that I was able to accomplish that," Wagner said.